Lying some 118 km from Hanoi, Haiphong is known for its rich food culture.
After the Haiphong Department of Tourism issued a food tour map which suggests some must-try dishes and addresses in Haiphong, more people from Hanoi have come to the port city to have a try.
The train route is popular due to its convenience and cheap prices.
People get off the Hanoi-Haiphong train.
According to the Vietnam Railway Corporation, they are running eight passenger trains daily on the Hanoi-Haiphong route. The trains, which run two hours and a half, are all very busy with hardly any seats left during weekends.
A passenger, Nguyen Ha Thu, said that she usually chooses to visit Haiphong by train as it's cheap and safe. She said she could also enjoy the beautiful scenery along the way and try different foods at each station.
"One of Haiphong’s best dishes is also sold on the trains," Thu said. "I really enjoy the special Banh My Que bread sticks with pate."
Another passenger, Nguyen Ha Lan, said that her family usually visits Haiphong during the weekend.
"Haiphong food is tasty and cheap," Lan said. "For just VND 1 million per person including train ticket, motorbike rental, and many kinds of food at the Cat Bi Market, we can have a nice tour of the city in a day."
According to the director of the Haiphong Railway Transportation Department, Tran Van Hanh, the Hanoi-Haiphong route has received a sharp rise in the number of passengers.
"Over 554,000 passengers used the service in the first five months of 2023, up 190 percent from the same period last year," Hanh said. "It's estimated that some 3,000 passengers depart from Hanoi to Haiphong daily this year."
